Portable material handling apparatus



Jan. 27, 1942. Q, s. JOHNSON I PORTABLE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1939 I fizzlenz or Cgerles ark/mm mm .m M

7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jali- 1942- c. s. JOHNSON PORTABLE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 2,- 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 v muenr aJolmsorz Jan- 27, 4 c. s. JOHNSON vv2,271,434

- PORTABLE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS I v Filed March 2, 1939 7 .s heets sheet s Charies 6. Jbimso Jan. 27, 1942. c. s. JOHNSON PQRTABLE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1939 7 Sheets-Shet 4 Ckarks 802212126022 Jan. 27, 1942. v s. JOHNgON 2,271,434

PORTABLE MATERI L HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1939 7'Sheets -She et 5 Y 122062250)" Mes 5. Jofilzsozz Jan. 27,1942. c. S. JO HNSON U 2,271,434

PORTABLE MA'IERIAL- HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1939 v "1 Sheets-Shet e- 1'; fizuenior Charlesfi-Joimjson Jan. 27, 1942. c. s. JOHNSON PQRTABLE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Fiied March 2, 1939 TSheets-Sheet. 7

Izz/erzfar ge M L p ataa aazv", 1942 two I STATE are placed in large overhead storage bins, flowed BClaimsQ- (cl. 214-2).

I The inventionrelates to port able material handling apparatus and vmoi-eiparticularly to*- such apparatus suitable for use with loose bulk materials such as sand, gravel, crushed rock, or

other aggregates used in making mixed concrete or, on the other hand, Ior use with such dry batch materials as are used for paving and road surfacing. In making, for example, mixed concrete in fairlylarge quantities it has heretofore generally been the practice to utilize stationary central plants. In these plants the materials by gravity into weigh batchers below the bins, and from the batchers thematerials ar'e chutedinto one or more mixers located at a still lower level. Such plants are much too high and bulky to .haveany but a fixed mounting, particularly in view or the location of. the elements serially one above the-other. To move. such. a plant necessitategnot only costly dismantling and reassem- 4 bly, but also a very considerable loss 01 time. On

the other hand, efllcient mixer operation re-' quires adequate apparatus to insure a steady 4PD1fof successive batches bi accurately Pm portioned materials. Accordingly, the" ieeding v and batching mechanisms should be carefully; co-

niy to insure ordinated with the. mixer not uniiormity of. product, but alsov idle time for the mixer between mixing cycles. It

will thus begseen that portability cannot be achieved at the sacrifice oi. eflectivenes's and eiii- Y ciency of the apparatus associated with the mixer without a consequent sacrifice of emciency oi mixer operation and uniformity of. product.

One general object of the inventionis to'pro-' vide a coordinated batching and charging apparatus that is capable oi. aflording maximum eflia ciency of operation for an associated mixer with uniiormity oi mixer product, and which'is also capable of easy transport with a minimum ex p'enditure of time and labor. In'the illustrative construction herein shown, the apparatus has been segregated into a series of units carried by separable wheeled vehicles. Each-oi these veranged that 'a coordinated control of the whole level station-l Moreover, an adequate: reserve supply of batch constituents is aflorded. and the initial charm and ilnal toflother forms '01, system can be carried out-from a single ground r Another object of the invention is to provide a conveniently and readily portable batching apparatus including-gravityieeding reserve bins for the batch constituents, which is of such char- 5- acter that it may be eflectually used, not only for charging a concrete mixer, but also for preparing batchesoi many other types of 100se,'bulk materials as, for example, in thedry batching oi. road surfacing or paving mixtures.

10 The invention also resides in various important structural improvements in the apparatus by virtue of whichminimum cost, size and-weight vare combined with effectiveness and efllciency of operation. v v l5 Further objects andiadvantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying d'ra gs in which:

Figure lis a side elevation and general view 20 of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of .the batching and feeding unit included in the apparatus of m 1.

Fig. c is avertical transverse sectional view 85 alongthelineHinFlgd;

4-is-an endelevation of the unit of m. 2. 5 is an enlarged iragmentary side elevation oi a 'hoist'and conveyor-drive mechanism F18. Fi

included in theunit of Fig. 2. v

is an and elevation 01 the apparatus 'showninl'ig use are detail sectional views aiong the -.I ,-'-'I!, respectively, in Fig. .6.

118;: elevation or a modifi d 'liflieshown lung. 2.

Fig. 10 is'averflcjalnection'alviewoi thei'eedthe conveyor apparatus shown in 45 For purpososof' illustrationthe invention has hicles and-its load is sufliciently in its dimensions and weight so that it coniorms tothe .usual highway regulations governing such .characteristics. Furthermore, the parts are so 'ar'- invention-1s amlicabl atgroundlevel.

the invention to such embodiment, but, on the other hand, the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

General arrangement of apparatus The apparatus shown (Fig. 1) has been segregated into three units designated generally by the letters A, B and 0, each of which i mounted upon or embodies a separate wheeled vehicle. By thus distributing the bulk and weight of the apparatus, each unit is sufliciently small that it conforms to the usual highway regulations governing permissible size and weight of vehicles. Accordingly, the apparatus can be readily transported from point to point as it use may require and only a very small amount of time is required in setting up the apparatus for operation at each new point of use.

The most important unit in the series is the central or intermediate unit B. It embodies a bin structure In providing a set of segregated position of theskip l2 so that the latter can charge directly into the truck. Similarly, the

'unit B can be used'for dry batching road or paving materials and the batches of such materials can be dumped directly into a suitable truck or other conveyance from the skip l2.

Batching and feeding unit The batching and feeding unit B (Fig. 1) embodies a four wheeled truck or a vehicle 22 provided with jacks 23 that can be used to lift the truck slightly while it is stationary so as to reframework 26 supports the bin structure and the -is divided into three open-top compartments.

The compartment divisions are formed storage compartments for reserve supplies of the unit B embodies a weighing'mechanism Ii for weighing batches of material fed by gravity from the bin structure In into a skip or batch container l2. In general, the skip it is traversable from a loading and weighing position be neath the bottom apex of the 'bin structure Ill,

compartments, to an elevated discharge position where it i tilted into a dumping position shown in Fig. 1 for discharging its contents to the mixer included in the unit C.

As to the other units in the series, the unit A constitutes a loading means for feeding ma-' terials into the bin structure ID from a ground level loading point. In brief, it includesa. receiving hopper I3 and an endless belt [4 carried on an inclined frame l5. Materials are loaded into the hopper l3 as, for example, from a dump truck T and are carr ied by the conveyer belt E4 to the top or the bin-structure where they are directed into a selected one of the bin compartments. At the other end of the line the unit C embodies a concrete mixer l6 of conventional form including the usual rotating mixing drum [1. Materials are charged into the mixer drum H at a charging opening I8 through a feed chute i9, and the mixed concrete is discharged through I a chute 20 into any suitable receiver such as the cart 2|. v

Unified control for the system is accomplished by locating the controls for the weighing mechanism II, the skip hoist and the drive for the conveyer I4, all at a common or single ground level station S on the unit B. .In thi Way one man can readily control the entire batching and feeding mechanism and effectually coordinate its speed and periodsof operation with that of the mixer it.

One particular virtue of the apparatus is its flexibility of application. For example, the unit B is equally well adapted--and without any alterations and changes in construction-to feed batches of aggregates to a so-called mixer truck. Such trucks are of well known construction and ordinarily embody a horizontal rotating mixing drum with a top opening into which the constituents of the mix are charged. Such a mixing truck can be driven beneath the discharge walls of the bins may be of suitable sheet metal. The interior of the bin structure (Figs. 2 and 3) 21-29. by a central, vertical transverse partition 30 which extends entirely acros the bin structure, and a centrallongitudinal vertical partition 3|, which divides the compartments 21 and 28 (Fig. 3) and extends only half the length of the bin structure. At the bottom of each compartment, ad-,

1 the regulating gates for the other two outlets are where it receives aggregates from the storage bin of the same form. The gate 32 is slidable'longitudinal to completely close the outlet 2'! 01' to I I open it a predetermined amount. These gates are manipulable by a hand crank 33, attachable to any one of the corresponding three jack shafts 34.. Each of these shafts carries a pinion meshing with a rack carried by the corresponding gate. For example, in the case of thega-te 32, the corresponding one of the jack shafts 34 carries a pinion 35 meshing with a rack 36 on the gate.

All of the jack shafts 34 are'located for access at the single control station S.

The skip or batch container l2 (Fig. .2) is made of sheet metal and hasflat side walls 31 as well as a rounded bottom 38. The top of the skip is cut off at an angle so that it is substantially horizontal when the skip is carried in an inclined position as shown at an angle A trackway', made up of 'two sets the trackway from loading position beneath the bin structure to its elevated discharge position (shown respectively in full and dot-dash lines in Fig. 2). The pairsof rollers 4l)-4|,

journaled on opposite sides of the skip, support it for movement along the trackway 39 -39 The smaller rollers 4| roll along thelower tracks or angle irons 39 while the larger rollers 40 bear against the under side of the flanged upper angle irons or tracks 39. Each pair of tracks 3939 is joined at the lower end as indicated at 42 so as to form sockets for the rollers 40 to stop the skip in its loadingposition.

For hoisting the loaded skip ahoist'ing' drum 43 (Fig. 4) is utilized. This drum is journaled on a horizontal shaft 44 anda pair of hoisting lines 45 are wound about, it. The lower .ends of. the hoist lines 45 are led about the rounded bottom 38 ofvthe skip |2 (Fig 2) and'anchored' on its lower side at 46. The trackway 38-39 is fashioned to cooperate with this hoist line arrangement to accomplish 48. Consequently, whenwound up by the hoisting .drum 43 the skip l2 ,40. After the skip i2 has been lease of the tension on the hoist brake, .designated 1 ing drum 43 65, meshing automatic dumping of the skip l2 when it reaches its elevated discharge position. In particular, the lower tracks 89" are curved horizontally outward at their upward ends as indicated-at 41- (Fig. 2) and terminate in upwardly curved ends or abutment-s the hoist lines '45 are moves upward along the trackways 39 39 and v the forward rollers- 4| finally socket against the Thereafter, continued 45 fulcrums the skip curved abutments 48. tension on the, hoist lines l2 about its forward rollers 4| until it reaches its-tilted or dumping position (shown in dotdash. lines in Fig. 2) The upper ends of the 39 are curved away from as indicated at 49 so as to clear the rear rollers emptied, a relines 45 permits it to tip back in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) due to gravity so that the rear rollers 40-are restoredto their position on the trackway and the skip l2 then descends by gravity to its initial loading position.

(Figs. 6, 7 and V band 68 the operator swings a the lower track To minimize the power actuating apparatus required, a single prime mover, such as a gasoline engine (Fig. 2) is preferably utilized to drive both the skip hoisting drum 43 and the conveyer belt M. For this purpose the gasoline engine 50 is connected through tion gearing 5| and a chain 52 sprocket '53 (Fig. 4) fast on the (Fig. 2) with a shaft 44.

a disengageable 44 with a sprocket 55 loosely journaled on the with a conveyer pulley 57 (Fig. l). .The clutch 54 is actuatable into either released or engaged position by a manually operated lever 58 (Fig. 4) located at the control station S and fixed on a vertical oscillatable sleeve 59. The upper end of this sleeve is connected through a. crank 60 and links 6l-62 with the clutch 54.

A combined difierential generally by the numeral 63 (FigsJG and v7) is used for connecting the hoistto the driving shaft 44 andfor holding the hoisting drum against rotation. This device sun gear 64 44 and a second terminal element or ring gear with the intermediate elements or planetary gears 66. which also mesh with the sun gear. The planets 66 are joumaled in the usual manner on a spider 61 which is in turn loosely journaled on the shaft 44. driven terminal element is fixed on .the end of the hoisting drum 43 (Fig., 6). -'Accordingly,

The ring gear or a speed reductrips the toggle linkage so that The shaft 44 is in turn connected at will with the .conveyer belt I4 by means of -jaw clutch 54., This clutch connects the shaft gear type clutch and .of the band 68. As seen in bell crank arms, are so arranged that, when the tightened and the clutch In an intermediate position both I 3 v '1 A pair of bell cranks II and II are keyed to this rock shaft, the arms. of the bell cranks It being connected to the free ends of the band 68 andthe arms of the crank Il being keyedv to the free ends Figs. 7 -and 7 the shaft 10 is oscillated in a clockwisdd'irection, the clutch band 68 lstightened and the brake band 69' loosened, while upon being oscillated in the opposite direction the brake band69 is band 68 is loosened. of the bands 68-69 are loose. To oscillate the rock shaft 16 in a'clockwise direction for tightening the clutch (Fig.4) so as to oscillate a shaft 13 withinthe sleeve 59. This shaft in turn oscillates a crank 5) so that a toggle link 15, pivoted at 16,.is swung to the left (as viewed in Fig. 5.).

turn pulls a second and pivotally connected toggle link 11 downward and to. the left. This second toggle link 11 is pivotally connected at I8 to an arm 19 fast. on the rock shaft '16. A contractile spring 80, anchored at its opposite ends adjacent the lower toggle pivot 16 and to the upperportion of the second toggle link 17, 'yieldably urges the toggle links to the left of their dead center band 68 engage When the its unloading position .(Fig. 5)

skip [2 reaches it automatically the clutch band hand lever 12 position so as t'o hold the clutch Y 66 will be loosened and the brake band 69 enhoisting drum n and hold For this p pose a side flange. 8| is formed on the skip l2 which engages the outer end'of the link 82 and swings the latter about its pivot 88 when the skip is tilted downward. 82 is pivotally connected to a cross link .84 which is in turn pivotally connected to the lower toggle link. Accordingly, when the flange 8| ,strikes the link 82 link 84 is Pulled to the right 5) and the toggle linkage the right of its dead'center .gaged to stop the it against rotation.

(as viewed in Fig.

position where it is held by the spring. The resultant upward cludes a first terminal element or (Figs. 6 and '7) keyed to the shaft die 12 a short distance in .the opposite direction.

This pulls the toggle inkage 1s and .1 back to its dead center position and in which both the brake to connect the driving shaft 44 with the hoisting drllm 43, the bodily rotation about the axis of. the shaft 44 by tightening a clutch band 68 which encircles the spider 51. SimilarLv, to hold the drum 43 is tightened to hold this latter gear ring gear ,65,

the planets '66 are peragainst rotation while mitted torevolve freely. Finally, to release the hoisting drum 43 for free rotation during gravital descent of the skip: l2, both of the bands 68 and 69 are released. 4 v n The actuating mechanismkfo'r the bands li -69, which control the combined clutch and :rake mechanism 63, includes ahorizontal rock planets 66 are held against '65 against rotation, a'brake band 69, encircling the-- -shown (Figs. 2.3 and encircle the skip l2 when, the

and clutch bands are released so that the hoisting drum 43 is permitted to revolve freely for descent of the skip.

In order to weigh out desired amounts of mate rial in each batch accumulated in the skip l2, the

- weighing mechanism l I is utilized. This weighing conventional form I mechanism is ofmore or less and accordingly its not believed to. require a very detailed descript on.

4) rectangular steel frame or as including a heavy cradle 85 arrang to latter is in its loading position. beneath the bin rate. lower sections 1889 and rollers 4l-4l-.rest on these separa .tions so that the The upper end of the link.

the intermediate swung slightly to .movement of the upper end of the toggle link .16 in a counterclockx descent of the In general, it has been outlets. Sepa-f lll 'of thetracks 85. Consequently, Jwhensthe skip l2 ls-in its loading-position the:

track seer entire weightof the skip is second material, and

feed of the third material. It will be noted that hung by shock absorbing springs 86 (Fig. 3) on intermediate portions of scale arms 91 which are fixed on a pair of horizontal hollow shafts 80. The outer ends of the arms 81 are pivotally hung on the under side of the truck frame. Downward motion of the members 88, resulting from weight applied to the cradle 85, swings downward a pair of opposed inwardly projecting arms 89 (Fig. 4), which are connected thereto. These arms 99 are gathered by a shackle 90 and are connected through suitable links III-92 with a scale beam 93 (Fig. 2)

The scale beam is connected to a visual indicator 94 which registers the weight of mate-. rial in the skip I2. In addition, the beam 93 is connectible with any selected one of a series of auxiliary scale beams 95 which are rendered operative or inoperative by the usual beam lifters 95. The counte'rweights on the beams 95 can be set for various predetermined weights which are likely to be used in the batching and then the one of the beams 95 is selected for use which corresponds to the particular batch weight which is to be weighed. For example, when making up a batch of three materials, from the three bin compartments 21-29, the first beam 95 can be set for the weight of one material, the second beam for the total of the first two materials, and the third beam for the total of all three. Insuch case the first beam is rendered operative while the first material is fed into the skip, the second beam during the subsequent feed of the the third beam during the the scale beams, beam lifters and visual indicator 94 for'the weighing mechanism II are all readily accessible at the control station S.

To protect the weighing mechanism II against damage due to the impact of the skip I2 as it returns to its loading position, means has been provided for checking the speed of the skips gravitational descent. In particular, humps 91 (Fig.2) are formed in the-lower tracks 39 so that the rollers 40-4I will strike these humps and slow up the skip before it reaches the separate track sections 39"--40 carried by the weighing cradle mechanism 85.

Dry cement supply By virtue of the fact that the skip I2 is located substantially at ground level when in its loading position, dry cement can be easily added to its contents by a workman standing-by the side. of the unit B. For this purpose the open-top of the skip I2 is dimensioned so that a substantial portion of it projects beyond the outlets for the bin compartments and is freely accessible while the skip is in loading position. With such an arrangement the workman can reach in beneath the rear overhang of the bin structure I (right hand side as viewed in Fig. 2) and pour into the top of the skip I2 a sack of dry cement or some similar amount which may be required in the batch.

In some instances weighing oi the dry cement may be desired and in such case the modified arrangement of Fig. 8 may be conveniently utilized. In this construction a bin I00 for dry cement has been added to the unit B beneath thefront overhang of the main bin structure. Cement from this bin I00 is fed into the skip I2 through a feed screw IOI communicating at its discharge endtwith a downwardly facing spout I02. This spout I02 registers with an open slot I03 in the upper side of the skip. A flexible shroud I04 surrounds the end of the spout I02. Dry cement entering the slot I03 passes into an inner container I05 within the skip I2 (see also Fig. 9). The upper end of the container I05 is open so that when the skip is tilted for discharging, the dry cement in the container I05 is spilled out over the aggregates which are simultaneously discharged from the skip. The feed screw IN is connected in driven relation with a shaft, I06, carrying the engine driven gear 5I, through a clutch I01 and a shaft I08. The clutch I01 is manipulable by a hand lever I09 at the control station S. The operator can thus alternately engage and disengage the clutch I01 to feed successive increments of dry cement into the skip I2 until a predetermined amount is fed into it, as indicated by the weighing mechanism II. 4

conveyer unit In the unit A (Fig. l) the receiving hopper I3 has a generally rectangular open top bordered at its back and sidesby an overfiow guard H0. The hopper terminates in a bottom outlet III (Fig. 10) provided with a regulating gate II2 manipulable by a hand wheel H3 (Fig. 1).

veyer, the belt I4 is provided with a series of spaced and: rigid cleats or cross partitions II4 (Figs. 10-12). In the absence of some special loading arrangement, however, these cleats would be likely to jam material against the outlet of the hopper I3 and thus impede or stop the conveyer belt movement. To prevent such action a series of special deflector shields II5 (Fig. 10) are utilized for directing the material from the hopper I3 on to the conveyer belt I4. These deflector shields are located beneath the outlet III and are equal in width to the. conveyer belt I4, being bordered at their sides by yieldable side guard plates H6. The shields II5 are flexible and resilient in character and are anchored at their upper ends with their lower or outer ends free. They are thus yieldably urged in the direction of conveyer belt movement and will yield in a downward direction sufficiently to prevent jamming of material between their free ends and the edges of the beltcleats II4. In order to prevent side spillage of loose materials from the surface of the conveyer belt I4 an improved construction has been utilized. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12 herein a series of rigid upright arms or pickets III are fixed in closely spaced relation along the opposite side edges of the belt I4. Each of these pickets is anchored at its lower'end to the belt and projects upward from the belt surface. As the belt moves over the curved periphery of the upper pulley 51, for example, the pickets II'I are spread apart slightly but permit the belt I4 to conform to the curvature of the pulley. Incidentally, any slight parting of the pickets III at this point is immateria since the material is discharged from the surfacl of the belt at the upper end of the conveyer i! any event.

Dispatching of the material from the conveye belt I4 into a. desired one of the bin compart ments 2'I--29 is aided by a shield II8 (Fig. 1 pivoted on the top of the central bin partitio 30. This shield II! is oscillatable between tw alternative angular positions shown respective in full and dot-dash lines in Fig. 1,. When in 1 full line position it underlies the end of the co: veyer belt I 4 and directs the material to the rig] hand side or the central bin partition 30. Bin

accommodate maximum incline of the con- I The conveyer frame I can, of course, be shifted laterally. so that the belt ll overlies one or the other of the side-by-side compartments 21-28 so as to determine which of these two compartments will receive the material.

A wheeled support for the loading unit A (Fig. 1) is formed by a two wheeled truck II! located at its lower end. When in use the extreme lower end of the conveyer is supported by suitable jack I20. To transport the conveyer from place to place it can be tilted down and secured to the rear end of a suitable motor-truck by an 'attachment I2I carried by depending struts I22.

Batch receiving um't Asrpreviously noted, the concrete mixer It (Fig. 1) of the unit C is of conventional Iorm and, accordingly, a briei. description will suflice.

It embodies the usual rotating mixing drum I'I driven. by the gasoline engine I23. ,Water for the mix is supplied from a suitable water batcher indicated at I24. Also, as previously noted, the

aggregates and cement are fed to the mixer irom the charging chute I9 and after being mixed are discharged by the-chute into a suitable re-' ceiver 2|. A two wheeled trailer I carries the mixer IS-so that it can be easily transported and I it may be connected to the unit B by trailer tongue I26. At its opposite end the unit B is provided with a suitable towing tongueJfl so that the units B and C can be readily towed from place to place. I u

In the event that it is desired to use the vunit B for charging some other. iormiot mixer orior batching materials other than those in a cement mixer the unit C can be removed. In

this way a space is cleared beneath the discharge station for the skip I2 so that itscontents can be dumped into another mixer, truckerv other receiver. Brief rsum .0! operation In the operation of the apparatus ofFig. 1 the engine 58 is started and the conveyer belt I4 set in motion by engaging the clutch 54 (Fig. 4') by" means oi. the hand lever 58 at the control station S. Material is then dumped into the receiving hopper I 3 from time to time, as may be required, from the dump truck T or the like. This material passes up the conveyor belt I4 and is dis-' .patched into one of the three main bin compartmerits 21-29 in accordance with the setting of the-shield I I8 andthe upper end or the conveyem The bin compartments areprei'erably maintained substantially full of the materials to be used in the mix so as to i'orm an adequate reserve supply at an intermediate point in theirpath of travel through the apparatus. In this way adequate amounts of the materials are. always kept on hand for forming a batch in the skip I-2. example, the sand may be storedin one-oi the bin "compartments, gravel in another, and

To iorma' batch oinggr the skip is placed in its loading position beneath the bin out-lets Ti -29 and on the weighing cradle 85. Then the'operator opens the regulat-' ing gate for one oi the-bin compartment outlets through rotation of the handle II. Furthermore.

he shifts one of the-beam litters (Fig. 2) and watches the movement of the corresponding scalev beam 95;.until the. selected weight of material is accumulated in the skip, at which time the regulating gate. is-shut. Th n P t, the next scale egates in theskip I2 41am, when in its other position it deflects the material to the left hand side 01' the partition 30.

beam in operation by lowering its beam lifter and opens the regulating gate oi the next bin compartment. This procedure is-repeated for all three of the bin compartments until the corre- I,

sponding selected amounts of each of the aggregates is accumulated in the skip l2. Dry cement may then be dumped into the top or the skip while in its ground level loading position or it the construction a: Fig. 8 is utilized the clutch Illv is engaged and a desired amount of dry cement fed into the cement container III! by the 7 feed screw-llll.

Upon completion of, the batch in the skip I2 the operator manipulates the hand lever I2 in I order to engage the hoisting drum clutch and the.

skip I2 is traversed upwardly along the trackway 89-49. Upon 'reachingits uppermost pochute I9 from whichthey are directed into the mixer drum vII. The mixing operation in the mixer proceeds in the usual manner and the mixed concrete-is finally discharged into thev receiver 2|. after the skip I2 has been emptied,

the brake on the hoist drum 43 is released and the skip I2 permitted to return by gravity along the trackway D -.39" to its initial loading. position. I

- From the foregoing it will beseen that pre-' cbely determined and proportioned batches oi material can be fed to the mixer or the like with rapidity and precision. In view of the unified control station 8, all of thecontrolling operations can be readily carried outby a single operator from ground level. Furthermore, in view of 'theiact that the loading or both aggregates and cement takes place at ground level these operations can be very easilycarried out. To conditlon the apparatus for transport it is only neces-- sary to disconnect the chainlii between the engine driven shaft 44 and the 'con'veyer pulley 51 ai'ter'which the various units A, B and C can be. towed along a highway to the next place or use. a I claim as my invention: 1

l; In an apparatus of the type described the combination of a wheeled vehicle, a bin structure mounted on said vehicle and having a generally inverted pyramidal bottom wall with an outlet in the apex for gravity discharge of its contents, said apex oi the bottom wall being located close to. ground level, an upwardly inclined trackway also carried by said. vehicle and leading from said I apex along said inclined bottom-wall to an elevated upper point, -a batchcontainer' supported.

for movement along-said trackway from a loading position beneath said outlet to adis'charge position at said upper point, thelower" portion of said trackway beneath said outlet being struc- .turally separate from the remainder thereof,- and weighing n eanscarried by said vehicle 'for supporting. said lower portion of the trackway to weigh the container contents when the container is in loading podtion.

. 2. In an apparatus of the typedescribed the combination of an upwardly inclined trackway,

a batch container supported for movement alon said trackway" from a loading position-'adiacent' the lower of said trackway to a discharge position at'the upper end of said trackway, rollers container on said -trackway, a 

